Over and Under the Waves

Over and Under

by Kate Messner, Christopher Silas Neal (illustrator)

Explore the wonders and beauties of the ocean's kelp forests in this latest addition to the acclaimed Over and Under series.

Award-winning duo Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal return in this latest addition to the Over and Under picture book series, this time exploring the rich, interconnected ecosystem of the ocean!

Over the waves, the sea lions bark and seagulls wheel and call. The bay is smooth and bright in the sun. But under the waves, there's a whole hidden forest, full of whales and wolf eels, sardines and sea bass, leopard sharks and luminous jellies, as well as the waving kelp that shelters them all. Discover the magical depths of the kelp forest, and all the fascinating creatures living just a paddle's length away—over and under the waves.

SO MANY FASCINATING Kids are endlessly curious about the natural world and the wildly varied animals and plants living in it—and the ocean is FULL of amazing and surprising life!

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS MADE Preservation of our wilderness—and of our oceans in particular—is essential, and this book makes such a great, upbeat jumping-off point for discussions of the importance and wonder of our world's natural habitats and ecosystems.

THE GORGEOUS UNDERWATER This new book in the Over and Under series illuminates the magic and amazing biodiversity of the kelp forest by telling the story of one family's kayaking trip through a real-world ocean ecosystem. Lyrical prose and color-drenched illustrations will draw even the most reluctant readers into the world.

STRONG CURRICULUM The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) emphasize learning about animal habitats/biomes in K-2 curriculums, while later grades address topics like food chains, conservation, and endangered species. With a depth of research and an engaging, highly visual narrative, this book is an excellent resource for librarians and primary school educators.

FROM A FAVORITE AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR Kate Messner and Chris Neal make nonfiction approachable and appealing! These two award-winning creators have received countless accolades and published books to critical acclaim, making them the perfect team to tackle any nonfiction topic.

Perfect

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Science, Nonfiction, Animals, Childrens, Family

56 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2024

About the author

Kate Messner is an award-winning author, TED 2012 speaker, and former middle school English teacher. Her books for kids include THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.,SUGAR AND ICE, and EYE OF THE STORM (Walker/Bloomsbury Dec. 2010) the MARTY MCGUIRE series (Scholastic), SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY, and OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle, Books). Kate also wrote SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE, both Lake Champlain historical novels published by North Country Books.

Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com

Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner

...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner

Reviews

[Joe Krakovsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grabbed this book at the library when I saw the picture of a whale on the cover as my friend Persephone loves whales. Unfortunately, they didn't say much about whales in the story other than they like to eat sardines. However, in the back of the book there are additional notes about each animal mentioned in the book. What it said about the Humpback whale was this. "They can grow to be to over 60 feet (18.3 meters) long. They eat krill, anchovies, and sardines and sometimes work together when they fed on schooling fish. Using a technique called "bubble netting," a few humpbacks make bubbles around the fish to create the illusion of a net - a barrier the fish can't swim through. Meanwhile, other whales dive below the school, forcing the fish up to the surface. Then the whales all lunge through the school with their mouths open to feast."

This would be a great book to read as a bed time story or to read along with a child. There are nice illustrations in the book.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book in the “Over and Under” series. I can’t believe the author kayaked in the area of the Monterey Bay Aquarium because the seas there can be rough. I do love how this book is inspired by the ecosystem near the aquarium and by the aquarium itself. This area is close enough to me to be considered (almost) local and I’ve visited numerous times though not for years. The area is beautiful though I have a love-hate relationship with the aquarium. I loved the pages of fauna & flora more detailed information at the end of the book and appreciate the list of Further Reading (books and websites) at the end. The fictional story didn’t engage me as much as the facts did but it was entertaining enough. This is an excellent addition to this series. I do like this author & illustrator team. I love the ocean and I enjoyed these illustrations. Neither the story or illustrations are my very favorite but I do like them and I enjoy reading about an ecosystem with which I have some familiarity. Recommended for children & families & school groups who will be visiting the area or studying similar ecosystems.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations, but I find the repetitiveness of “over the waves” and “under the waves” to be boring. While there are some cool animals mentioned, no facts are given. Not much of a story. Felt like a quiet type of book that might be read once, but I can’t see any of my students reaching for it a second time. If it’s not funny, fascinating or surprising it just doesn’t stand out among so many children’s books that are.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hooray! I love the ocean and I've many happy memories of visiting Monterey Bay so I was especially delighted to learn about this latest installment in the Over and Under series and am thrilled We picked it up as soon as it came in and really enjoyed it. It captures much of the diversity of the Bay, from the reefs and pilings where wolf-eel and spot prawns dwell, to kelp forests where sea otters anchor for slumber or hunt for urchins, to the deeper water where the humpbacks breach, not forgetting the beach with its decorator crabs and the sky with its gulls. The family kayaking on the bay is the perfect witness to the various phenomena and another great representation of the Monterey Bay area as kayaking is a popular activity there. As usual with the Over and Under books, I thoroughly enjoy them yet am never quite captivated or wowed enough to give five stars, but I still highly recommend them as a wonderful way to look at the many different dwelling places for various types of animals in a given area. Back matter includes further facts about each animal spotlighted in the story as well as suggestions for further reading and research, including books and internet sites. I'll also mention one of my kids' favorites, the live cams at the Monterey Bay Aquarium! ;-)
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/a...
As well as the Monterey Bay episode of Barack Obama's Netflix series, Our Great National Parks.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very lovely - especially the two page spread with the pelican flying. The perspective on that page is awesome. My students enjoyed this story - we used it to finish our ocean unit. Recommended.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but there are definitely better books about sea life than this one.

[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book full of everything "ocean". Great for kids to think of what they cannot see under the water! I love the sea otter page!

[Holly Pretzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was incredibly excited for this book to come out and somehow forgot to review it after reading. The ocean is always a favorite topic. The illustrations were compelling, with unique perspectives. Though the shade of red used was a little jarring and in turn, made the illustrations less serene and natural than in previous books. Great book for any child who loves the water. I'll continue to buy every book they put out.

[Cristina Quattrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really gorgeous illustrations and can think of a million upper elementary activities to do with this as an anchor text. Would be a great way to marry figurative language, animal adaptations and research, and art in a student book modeled after this one 💓💓💓

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful addition to this series that brought me back to my childhood in Monterey Bay.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing words and art bring together two worlds as this family kayaks in the bay. Excellent back matter. Love this series.

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this after visiting Monterey and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This book was inspired by that area and Messner's kayaking trips in the Elkhorn Slough. Such a great series of books.

[Christine Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations! Beautiful depiction of the ecosystem by both author and illustrator

[Alyssa Medlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazingly illustrative book kayaks you through the busy waters of the Monterey Kelp Forest and the water above! Not only do you want to stare at the gorgeous illustrations for hours on end, the book truly transports you to the seaside town of Monterey! Could not recommend enough!

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over and Under the Waves felt like a look back at a perfect day in the Monterey Bay area (a little more perfect than most of us get in one trip). The book is a good compliment to a day at the beach there, and would also accompany an outing to the spectacular aquarium. It's certainly one I'd remember if we take the kids again. A simple companion and introduction to some of the animals and a bit more interesting than a traditional non-fiction pamphlet you might get on a visit.

Read as a nomination in the non-fiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good back matter.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author and illustrator Messner and Neal once again come together to create another wonderful Over/Under book. This one focuses on a family on a kayaking trip on the ocean. They describe the goings-on on the surface of the ocean and what is happening under the waves. Children will be able to point out many ocean creatures. Additional info on the animals and habitat is included in the end pages.

Highly recommended.

[Laura Giessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow this one didn't work for me. I wanted it to be a story, told by a believable narrator (whose words were these? the daughter's? Didn't seem like it...), OR a nonfiction book that detailed the amazing animals. I was left feeling like I didn't get quite enough of either.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Kate Messner remembers a time when she took her own children out kayaking in Monterey Bay. After the experience, she knew she wanted to write about the special ecosystem both above and below the waves in this area of the Pacific Ocean.

A family heads out in their kayaks on a beautiful day on the ocean. As they paddle away from the beach, they watch sea lions slip into the water and see pelicans soar overhead looking for fish to eat. They imagine the kelp bass below them hunting for small fish. They see a mama otter and her pup cuddled together while another otter swims below searching for red abalone and sea urchins.

There is a whole world living beneath the waves relying on each other for food and shelter. While gliding along in the waves a fountain mist sprays up and the family is treated to humpback whales lunging to the surface and crashing back down with a splash. You never know what you might see after a day on the ocean.

The illustrations are really beautiful and fill the pages with life both above and below the ocean’s surface. This book is a bit oversized and the vibrant colors of the ocean fill every inch of the page.

The author spent time researching the Monterey Bay area and talking with biologists and volunteers. At the end of the book, she shares about each of the animals featured in the book with a brief paragraph of information. She also includes websites and books for kids if they’d like more information. This would be a great gift for an ocean-loving child or as an addition to an ocean unit in a homeschool or classroom library.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book, and Messner’s whole “Over and Under” series, in fact. I especially like the concept and lyricism of these books and how they capture a place both through what can be visibly seen and what is happening behind the scenes. Just not sure how well they work as nonfiction. In this story, the main text is a fictional story of a mom, dad, and daughter spending a day kayaking in the ocean. The girl narrates about what creatures and plants they can see above the water while an unnamed omniscient narrator shares what is happening under the waves. Back and forth, under and above, w pictures illustrating the creatures but sometimes without being clearly identifiable. The end matter gives more facts about each creature mentioned in the story, hence its nonfiction designation. It captures a beautiful day on the water but I am left w so many questions about this vast ocean ecosystem that this book gives just in fleeting glimpses.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is another book I found on the Mock 2022 Caldecott List. I thought this was a very good book with lovely artwork, but it wouldn't crack the top 10 of best pictures books I've read yet. Hot Dog was better even.

This book is about prepositions. The artwork is beautiful and she does lots of splits so we see above the water and below. The setting is the Monterey Bay area around the San Francisco Bay area. A family is kayaking around seeing all these lovely animals and nature of the bay. I didn't realize there was so much inside the bay.

At the end, the author lists a few pages of all the animals in the bay and what they eat and other facts. It's a lovely fun book and it gives me a hankering to go visit Monterey Bay to see it for myself.

I would guess young kids would enjoy seeing the cute animals in this story.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messner and Neal take readers over and under the ocean this time with a family of three kayaking, exploring the organisms that live over and under the waves in the Monterey Bay area of California.

Another wonderful exploration of a biome with this winning author/illustrator duo. I like the variety of organisms mentioned, and that there's further information on each one in the back of the book. A wonderful pick for families about to head to Monterey Bay, kids studying ocean ecosystems, and curious readers.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Join a family as they spend the day paddling in the Pacific Ocean. When you read the author's note, you will learn that they are most likely paddling in Monterey Bay. The actions of the humans in the kayak mirror the actions of the marine life that they watch.
The author provides additional information about the different animals that are described in the book plus some books and websites to do more research. This would make a nice companion book to Odder by Katherine Applegate - which also takes place in Monterey Bay.

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely pictures with descriptive flowing text that describes the world above and below from the perspective of a family kayaking trip. A fun way to.discuss perspective and point of view, neat way to introduce ecosystems/habitats, or simply a discussion starter about remembering to slow down and look all around--over and under--as we venture into our summer breaks and explore the world around us. For those wanting more details about the animals mentioned in the story, be sure to look at the author's notes in the back. Point out the listing for further reading.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated and lyrically written narrative nonfiction. We feel as though we are in the kayak with this mom, dad, and daughter over the waves on Monterey Bay. As we travel over we also have insight into what is going on under the waves. All the sea creatures and how they spend their day. over head we experience birds and once we come into close range of humpback whales breaching. The end pages are also very well researched and informative.

[Maggie Crose]

I thought this book was good, but wasn't necessarily teaching anything to the reader. Although it talked about sea animals under the waves, it didn't give much insight into the science of that, but focused on how there is so much that goes on under the waves, and the illustrations were captivating, but there wasn't much of a lesson present. I would use this book in my classroom, maybe not as a lesson, but in my library especially for students interested in sea life.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the way this book presented facts, which would be an exciting way to get kids to ask questions about the ocean! I could see myself handing a kid this book on the way to a trip to the beach, to get their brains thinking! The illustrations are also nice and fitting on each page, however, I do wish there was a little more depth to some of the illustrations. But that is simply, my personal preference. Overall, great book!

[Bree Sotirovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messner recalls in the author's notes of a trip she took to Monterey Bay in California. She was a young girl and was amazed by the ecosystem. She went back as an adult and wrote this book. It beautifully describes the ocean life as her family paddles along throughout the day. You, as the reader, feel like you are also there. At the back of the book, there is a section about the animals described in the book.